Countertops in Wichita, KS

New countertops in Wichita usually go on top of cabinets that have been there for decades. About 17% of the city's homes were built in the 1950s, its most common decade of construction, and the median home dates to 1974. Wichita's population grew 46% in the 1940s and 51% in the 1950s as the aircraft industry expanded, and the ranch houses built in that boom still make up whole neighborhoods. Their kitchens are often galley or L-shaped, with original or once-replaced base cabinets and walls that have settled out of square. A good countertop job starts with what is underneath.

Quartz: low upkeep, consistent color

Quartz is an engineered stone made mostly of ground quartz bound with resin and pigment. It does not need sealing, the color is consistent from one slab to the next, and it comes in clean whites, grays and marble looks that suit both a 1958 ranch and a new build in west Wichita. HomeGuide lists installed quartz at about $50 to $200 per square foot, and $1,500 to $8,000 for an average kitchen of 30 to 40 square feet. Quartz should not be used outdoors in direct sun, and very hot pans should go on a trivet, because the resin can scorch or discolor.

Granite: natural stone, wide price range

Granite is quarried stone, so every slab is different. Entry-level granites are among the least expensive stone options, while rare colors cost as much as premium quartz. HomeGuide puts installed granite at about $50 to $80 per square foot for entry-level stone and $80 to $150 for mid-grade, and it needs periodic sealing, how often depending on the stone. Choosing granite means picking your actual slab, because the pattern and movement are part of what you are buying.

Why the template matters in older homes

Stone does not bend. If a wall bows or a cabinet run dips by a quarter inch, a solid top will rock or leave gaps unless the template captures it and the cabinets are shimmed level first. We template after the cabinets are set, mark where seams will fall, and plan overhangs and support for islands and bar tops. Old base cabinets also need to be checked for water damage under the sink and for strength, since a stone top is far heavier than the laminate it often replaces.

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Storms, water damage and replacement

In Wichita, spring and summer thunderstorms occasionally bring large hail, and the area has been hit by destructive storms, including in 1965, 1991 and 1999. When a storm leads to a roof leak or water in the kitchen, swollen cabinets have to be repaired or replaced and dried out before new tops go on. If you are working through an insurance claim, we can give you a written, itemized countertop quote to share with your adjuster.

Plumbing and permits

Reconnecting the sink drain, faucet and disposal to the existing lines is a normal part of a countertop install. Moving a sink to a new wall or island, adding a drain, or rerouting supply lines is plumbing work. In Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County, plumbing permits and inspections are handled by the Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department (MABCD), which combined the City of Wichita's Office of Central Inspection with the county's code enforcement division. We tell you at the estimate whether your layout changes plumbing, and that work is done by a licensed plumber under a permit where required.

What a typical kitchen countertop job includes

• An in-home visit to check cabinets, level, walls, sink and appliance locations
• Material and edge selection, with samples and slab approval before cutting
• A precise template after cabinets are set
• Fabrication with sink, cooktop and faucet cutouts
• Removal of the old tops, if included in your quote
• Installation, seaming, sink mounting and plumbing reconnection to existing lines
• Cleanup and a final walk-through with you

We work in Wichita and across Sedgwick County and nearby South-Central Kansas: Derby, Haysville and Mulvane to the south, with Wellington in Sumner County and Winfield in Cowley County farther south; Park City, Bel Aire, Kechi, Valley Center and Maize to the north; Goddard, Cheney, Clearwater and Colwich to the west and northwest; Andover, Augusta, Rose Hill and El Dorado to the east in Butler County; Sedgwick, Halstead and Newton to the north in Harvey County; and Hutchinson and McPherson to the northwest and north. The housing differs a lot from town to town: Wichita's older neighborhoods are full of 1950s and 1960s ranch houses, while Andover, Derby, Goddard and Maize have many newer subdivisions. Permits also differ: MABCD handles Wichita and unincorporated Sedgwick County and has agreements with some smaller cities, while other cities run their own building departments. Each area page covers what applies there.